hold someone's hand
The phrase "hold someone's hand" can be used both literally and figuratively to describe providing support or guidance.
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Definition
A2General
(literal)To physically grasp or hold another person's hand.
Example
- She held her child's hand while crossing the street.
B2Support
(idiomatic)To guide or assist someone through a process or situation, often in a detailed or step-by-step manner.
Example
- The new employee needed someone to hold her hand during the first few weeks on the job.
B2Emotional
(idiomatic)To provide emotional support or reassurance, especially during a challenging time.
Example
- He held his friend's hand through the difficult period after the loss of a loved one.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hold someone's hand":
give someone a handjoin handshand in handshake handshold withextend one's handon someone's handsraise one's handrun handshold tohold ontohold inhand over handput one's hands onrunning handlay hands onpair of handshold togetherwith one hand